A Word from the Director
Director Jamsheed Choksy, Distinguished Professor of Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University, gives his thoughts on this semester's IAUNRC activities.
Environments in 21st Century Central Eurasia 2024 Lecture Series
In 2024 – 25, the IAUNRC organized a multi-part lecture series titled “Environments in 21st Century Central Eurasia.” This series began this Fall 2024 semester and will conclude at the end of the Spring 2025 semester. This Fall environmental topics in Uzbekistan, Finland, Tibet, and the Uyghur region were addressed by our guest speakers. Presentations included subjects as diverse as over-irrigation and the Aral Sea environmental disaster, the challenges of sustainability in Finnish cities, contested narratives of land degradation on the Tibetan plateau, and the impacts of unsustainable development in the Uyghur region. This Spring our series will continue with presentations on environmental issues in Mongolia, Turkey, Hungary, Iran and Estonia.
Professional Development for K-12 Educators - Summer 2024
The IAUNRC gave several professional development presentations for K-12 educators during Summer 2024.
IAUNRC K-12 Outreach
The Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center regularly engages with the community as part of our commitment to fulfilling our responsibilities as a federally funded Title VI National Resource Center. This outreach includes sharing cultural and language knowledge with K-12 students, educators, their families, and beyond.
Interview with Ularbek Raimbekov, Kyrgyz FLTA
Ularbek is a FLTA (Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant) this year, teaching Kyrgyz language in the Department of Central Eurasian Studies, Indiana University Bloomington. In this interview, he introduces himself and some of his experiences while teaching and living in the US.
Interview with Gaini Tynyshtykova, Kazakh FLTA
During our interview, Gaini discussed her life in Kazakhstan, her experiences in the US, and her teaching at IU.
Interview with Dallin Day, Former President of the Hungarian Cultural Association at IUB
Here, Dallin tells us a bit about himself, as well as his experiences as the president of the Hungarian Cultural Association for the past several years.
Interview with Gabrielle Okun, New President of the Hungarian Cultural Association at IUB
We interviewed Gabrielle Okun, the new president of the Hungarian Cultural Association, here at IUB. She talks about her background, and her plans for the organization this year.
Interview with Luca Csak, Hungarian FLTA
We interview Luca Csak on her life in the US and Hungary, and her experience teaching at IU.
Tibetan Muslims in Exile Lecture
The IAUNRC welcomed Ms. Pema Tso to present her talk on “Tibetan Muslims in Exile,” on September 24th, 2024. This lecture was co-sponsored by the East Asian Studies Center, the Islamic Studies Program, the Center for the Study of Global Change, and the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures.
Mihaly Szegedy-Maszak Memorial Lecture: Veronika Darida on Gyorgy Lukacs
The Hungarian Studies Program at the Department of Central Eurasian Studies inaugurated the first Mihaly Szegedy-Maszak Memorial Lecture. The IAUNRC, REEI, and the Department of Comparative Literature were co-sponsors. Professor Veronika Darida of Eotvos Lorand University presented on the early essays of Gyorgy Lukacs (1885 – 1971), a famous yet controversial philosopher from Hungary.
101st Anniversary of the Republic of Turkiye
The Turkish Students Association at IUB held a celebration of the 101st Anniversary of the Republic of Turkiye on November 1st, 2024. The event was co-sponsored by the IAUNRC, CEUS, CSME, CELCAR, and the IU Funding Board.
Politicizing Islam in Central Asia: From the Russian Revolution to the Afghan and Syrian Jihads (a book talk)
The Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, the Islamic Studies Program, the Center for the Study of Global Change, the Robert F Byrnes Russian and East European Institute and the Center of the Study of the Middle EAST sponsored a lecture by Dr. Kathleen Collins from the University of Minnesota on her recently published monograph, Politicizing Islam in Central Asia: From the Russian Revolution to the Afghan and Syrian Jihads.
The Dilemma of Religious Leadership: Authority, Succession, And Protest in Iraq
The Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center was happy to co-sponsor an event organized by the Center for the Study of the Middle East in which Professor Marsin Alshamary from Boston College gave a guest lecture, “The Dilemma of Religious Leadership: Authority, Protest, and Succession in Iraq.”
Her Womb, Our Home: Shamaran, the Mother, the Goddess, and a Nation by Dr. Dilsa Deniz
On November 13th 2024, Dr. Dilsa Deniz came to present on the Kurdish mythological figure, Shamaran. She underscored the important role Shamaran has as the Mother goddess in both Alevism and in the wider Kurdish community.
The Iran-Israel Faceoff: The Roots of the Conflict and What May Lie Ahead
On Thursday, November 15th, 2024, the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center co -sponsored a lecture presented by the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism with Roya Hakkakian on the roots of the Iran-Israel Conflict and what may lie ahead.
Yalda Celebration 2024
On December 5th, 2024, the Persian program in the Department of Central Eurasian Studies, the Center for the Study of the Middle East, and the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center hosted a celebration for the Iranian holiday of Yalda.
The Singing Revolution Approaches 35: Cinematic and Historical Perspectives on a Historic Event
On Thursday, December 5th the IAUNRC co-sponsored an event and documentary screening with REEI, CEUS, the Institute for European Studies, and the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, titled “The Singing Revolution Approaches 35: Cinematic and Historical Perspectives on a Historic Event.” The documentary discussed the Singing Revolution which occurred in the Baltic states during the late 1980s which led to the restoration of their independence from the Soviet Union.
Uyghur Week 2024
The IAUNRC was happy to co-sponsor Uyghur Week at Indiana University with CELCAR, CEUS, CSME, Marco and Polo Eurasian Cuisine, and the Uyghur Academy from December 9th to 12th, 2024. Uyghur Week featured two informative lectures by Uyghur Scholars, a photography exhibit, a watercolor exhibit, and a documentary screening at IU Cinema.
